Spring, 2000

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Heading into the 2000 season, the Stony Brook softball team knew that a tough challenge was ahead. After all, it would be the program's first year at Division I, and the Seawolves knew that no game on the schedule would be easy. However, the task proved even harder than they thought, as the team finished with a discouraging 4-31 record.

The final statistics tell the tale, as opponents outscored USB 203 to 73 and drove in 146 runs compared to 55 for the Seawolves. Stony Brook's glaring 71 errors also played a significant role in its losses.

Throughout the season, the Seawolves would gain early leads or play even with teams and then give up a big late inning to suffer a setback. The home finale against Columbia was indicative of many of the Seawolves' losses. USB opened the game with a 2-0 lead off a two-run homer, but ended up tied with the Lions 4-4 after seven innings. In the eighth, the Seawolves gave up four quick runs and could only respond with one of their own, losing 8-5.

One of the brightest spots of the season came on the mound, where sophomore Stephanie Poetzsch etched her name in the record books after only one season with the Seawolves. Poetzsch broke the record for strikeouts in a season against Sacred Heart on April 15. Her nine strikeouts against the Pioneers gave her a total of 84, breaking the previous mark of 81 set by Cassie Rupp in 1999.

But Poetzsch didn't settle for just the season mark. In her last game on the mound for the Seawolves against Dartmouth on April 29, Poetzsch fanned five batters for a season total of 119, breaking the career mark of 118. Poetzsch finished with a 3-16 record, recording an ERA of 4.67 in 117.2 innings pitched.

Cassie Rupp (1-15) finished the season with a 7.48 ERA, pitching 95.0 innings and striking out 32.

Another positive for Stony Brook came in the form of senior slugger Tricia Lipareli, who ranks first in Stony Brook history in most doubles in a season and most at-bats in a season. The first baseman led the Seawolves from the plate again in 2000, going 36-for-107 for a .336 batting average. Lipareli proved to be indispensible as she was first on the team in batting average, runs scored (15), hits (36), doubles (11), homeruns (2) and RBI (15) and second in fielding percentage (.963).

Sophomore Sue Westing made an impact in her first year with the softball team as she started 28 of 29 games at shortstop. She missed six games due to injuries and was forced out of the batting lineup for almost three weeks, but when she was able to hit she made a significant contribution, batting .308 in 52 at-bats. She was second on the team in runs scored (9) and third in hits (16) and doubles (5).

Team MVP Corrine Vish started all 35 games, playing both second base and shortstop. The senior was second on the team in at-bats (106), RBI (7) and hits (24) and recorded a .226 batting average. Her positive attitude throughout the season proved to be just as, if not more important, as her statistics.

Junior Christie McMurray saw time behind the plate and in the outfield, proving to be a valuable, versatile fielder. She started all 31 games she played, hitting .227, driving in seven runs and scoring one homer. Kate Deck also played at catcher, starting 23 games. Deck hit .226 and notched the first home run of her career.

Junior Sam Foronjy battled injuries throughout the season but was a consistent outfielder for the Seawolves. Foronjy played in 25 games, starting all but two. She hit .231 on the season, scoring three runs and driving in one. Junior Tory Menchise played 34 games, starting 32 as the designated hitter and occasionally seeing action at second base. Menchise hit .225 on the season with five RBI. Menchise scored the winning run in the Seawolves' first victory as a Division I program, a 1-0 win over St. John's in which McMurray's RBI single drove in Menchise for the win.

Newcomer Cass Broadwater showed that she should be a productive third baseman in the years to come. In 2000, she started all 35 games at the position. At the plate, the Helena, Mont., native hit .208 and was second on the team in hits (20) and third in RBI (5).

Senior Lauren Ruane played in 17 games, starting six, and hit .250 from the plate. She scored five runs and drove in two. Sophomore Jen Milito played in 26 games, starting 25 in the outfield. She registered a fielding percentage of .941. Senior Stephanie Spader played in 16 contests, starting eight, and Lisa Notaro played in 11 games, pitching in five. In 10.1 innings pitched, she gave up seven runs on 13 hits and had an ERA of 3.48. Alyson Lamonte played in 15 games, starting two. In only six at-bats, she registered three hits and drove in two runs.

No one can dispute that the Seawolves' first season at the Division I level was disappointing and disheartening. The shift from D-II to D-I in 2000 proved to be a harsh transition. But with continued improvement and adjustment to a new level of competition, the Seawolves softball program can still achieve success and prosperity in the years to come.